USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 30
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JOHN H. HAGENER, lumber and grain dealer, Beardstown; was born in Beardstown, Ill., Jan. 7, 1850; son of William Hagener, a native of Hanover, Germany, who came to Beardstown in 1842, having lived in St. Louis . a short time before coming here, and there married Miss Lenora Peters. He was a car- penter and builder, and died in 1856, aged fifty-nine years. His wife and three sons only survive him. Our subject, after receiving - an 'ordinary education, learned the trade of stone cutter, but afterward was a clerk and bookkeeper for several years. In 1874, he em- barked in the lumber and grain business, first by himself, and afterward in connection with
Atinarkugelback
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his brother. They own warehouses at Beards- town, Hamilton, and Arenzville, and have agencies at other points. They do a very ex- tensive business in both lumber and grain. Mr. Hagener, as stated in this work, under the head of People's Bank, has been a direc- tor of that institution since its organization. , he has also held other positions of trust. He was married in 1875, to Miss Kate Pappmeier, daughter of J. F. Pappmeier, and has three children living.
WILLIAM HUPPERS, merchant tailor and clothier, Beardstown; was born in Prus- sia, Oct. 1, 1839, and at the age of thirteen years began learning the tailor's trade in his native land, at which he served two years, and then worked in Belgium and Paris for several years. March 17, 1863, he arrived in New York city, and went from there to Columbus, Ohio, but in June he came to Beardstown, and worked at his trade till 1869, when he started for himself, shortly afterward taking in as partner Philip Miller, and so continued until Feb. 1, 1881, Mr. Miller retiring at that time; since when Mr. Huppers has conducted the business by himself, at the corner of Main and State streets, where he keeps a full line of merchant tailoring goods, employing six or seven hands. He was married in 1865, to Miss Minnie Henkel, of Arenzville.
JOHN H. HARRIS, banker, Beardstown; was born in Cornwall, England, April 4, 1833, and came with his parents to the United States in 1838, first going to Louisville, and in 1840 removing to the. Sangamon Bottoms. In 1854, our subject entered McKendree Col- lege, where he remained three years, and then took a course at a commercial college in Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1858, and at once entered the office as book- keeper for John Gregg, afterward becoming agent for the sale of that gentleman's lands in Illinois, with headquarters at Beardstown. In 1864, Mr. Harris also entered the lumber
business for five years, and the dry goods trade at the same time. In 1877, he became stockholder at the organization of the Peo- ple's Bank, was elected its first president, and has filled that position ever since. In Lebanon, this State, in 1860, he married Miss Phebe Padon, who bore him five children, and died in 1823. In May, 1875, he mar- ried Mrs. Ann Tull, widow of David Tull, and two children have blessed this union. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
FRANKLIN A. HAMMER, banker, Beardstown; was born in Rockingham Coun- ty, Va., April 12, 1829; son of John and Eliza- beth (Marica) Hammer, Virginians, but of Ger- man descent. Franklin came with his parents to Illinois, in 1835, and in 1843 removed to Beardstown. The father had been a black- smith and merchant, but after coming to Beardstown kept the Virginia House. He afterward bought a farm, upon which he lived until 1862, when he moved to Beardstown, where he died in 1868. Our subject taught school one year, but went to farming in 1852, continuing six years. He served as Treasurer of Cass County in 1857-58. In 1852, he married Margaret Ann Lee, daughter of Caleb Lee, one of the pioneers of Cass County. In 1858, Mr. Hammer came to Beardstown, and was engaged in the livery business for sixteen years. In 1876, he be- came a stockholder in the Cass County Bank, was elected a Director in 1878, and at once chosen President of the same. He is a Demo- crat, and takes an active interest in all public affairs.
DAVID HENDERSON, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born in Piketon, Pike Co., O., April 20, 1825; son of James and Rachel (Henderson) Henderson, natives of Virginia, both deceased. James Henderson was born April 23, 1789; followed the occupation of a civil engineer and surveyor, and died March 11,
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1849; his wife, born March 25, 1793, died Oct. 31, 1862; they had a family of nine children. David attended school in his native town till he was fourteen years old, and in May, 1844, came to Illinois, and located in Meredosia; afterward lived in Arcadia, Ill., two years, and in March, 1846, came to this county, and set- tled near Beardstown. He learned the car- penter's trade with his father, in Piketon, O., and worked at it till he came here, since which time he has followed farming. In Beardstown, this county, Aug. 14, 1873, he married Martha Morgan; born in North Caro- lina, Dec. 15, 1841; daughter of George and Louisa Morgan; from this union four children have been born: James H., Mary G., Gertrude and Fannie A. Mr. Henderson is a Republic- an; his wife is a member of the M. E. Church.
DAVID M. IRWIN, real estate and insur- ance, Beardstown; was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 6, 1814; son of John and Elizabeth (Muhlenburg) Irwin; he, a shipping merchant of Philadelphia, Pa .; she, a daughter of Fred- erick Augustus Muhlenburg, first Speaker of the House of Representatives. David M. was educated in private schools in his native city, and at the age of thirteen became a clerk in a wholesale dry goods store, and afterward book keeper in an importing and shipping house. In 1841, he came to Springfield, Ills., engaged in mercantile business there, four years, and afterward in St. Louis, Mo., four years. In 1848 he came to Virginia, this county, where he kept a general store till 1853, then entered a tract of prairie and timber land in Hickory Precinct, part of which he still owns. In 1853, he opened a general store in Beardstown, and remained there till 1865 then moved to Peoria, Ills., where lie carried on business three years. He returned to Beardstown in 1868, and has since been en- gaged in the real estate, loan, and insurance business there, and has devoted his means argely to improving and building upon his
lots. In Chester, Pa., in 1839, he married Sibylla Birchell, who died in 1841, leaving one son, John H., one of the inventors of the Bell Telephone, and holding previous claims to Bell's, by which, on compromise, he receives an annual stipend of $10,000. Mr. Irwin mar- ried in Springfield, Ills., in 1842, Virginia G. Payne, and from this second marriage there has been one daughter, Ellen. He is a Re- publican.
L. A. JONES, JR., postmaster, and agent of the O. & M. Railroad, Bluff Springs ; was born in Hickory Precinct, this county, Feb. 17 1844, and is a son of Luther A. and Drusilla C. ( Calif) Jones, who were the parents of four children. Luther A. Jones, who is a farmer by occupation, was born in 1813, and now resides in Marshall County, IN .; he ran the ferry at Beardstown for thirteen years. Louis A., received his education principally in Beardstown, and engaged as agent for the O. & M. Railroad, which position he has held at Bluff Springs for eight years ; he also en- gaged in mercantile business here for a year. In Beardstown, Feb. 23, 1823, he married Rosa Dale, who was born in Frederick, Schuy- ler Co., Ill., Aug. 3, 1850, daughter of Hick- man and Amelia Dale. By this union they have been blessed with four children: Charles F., Luther A., died March 23, 1876, aged ten months, Emma L. and Louis A. Mr. Jones is the present postmaster of Bluff Springs ; he is a Republican.
WILLIAM JOCKISCH, retired, Beards- town; was born in Saxony, Germany, March 1, 1820, and in 1833 came with his pa- rents to America, landing in New Orleans, La., after a voyage of eight weeks. Gotthalf Joekisch, our subject's father, was a native of Saxony, and after coming to America, settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Arenzville Precinct, this county, and added to his original purchase till he had four hundred and eighty acres of good land.
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He died in 1850, aged fifty-five years, leaving an estate worth over twenty-five thousand dollars. His wife, Elizabeth, who died in St. Louis, while on her way to this county, bore him nine children, of whom one died in Sax- ony. There are five sons living, William be- ing the youngest but one. Our subject re- ceived a fair English and German education, and after his father's death purchased a part of the homestead farm, on which he followed farming until 1820, when he built a substan- tial residence on Sixth street, Beardstown, where he has since lived, giving his family a good education. He still owns two hundred acres of land in Beardstown Precinct; he has been a stockholder and director of the Peo- ple's Bank, of Beardstown, since its organiza- tion. Mr. Jockisch married Nov. 1, 1855, Elizabeth Rahn, a native of Beardstown. They have had five children, two sons and three daughters: Victor, Elizabeth, Annie, Rosa and Rudie.
CHARLES T. JOKISCH, farmer; P. O. Bluff Springs; is a native of Saxony; born Jan. 4, 1822; son of Charles G. and Mary E. (JJacob) Jokisch, also natives of Saxony. Charles G. Jokisch, who was a farmer and dis- tiller, was born June 20, 1796, and died in this county, Oct. 9, 1851; his wife, born in 1794, died in St. Louis, Mo., while on the way to this county, Jan. 24, 1835; they had fifteen children-nine boys and six girls. Charles T. received a fair education, having attended school in Saxony six years. He en- gaged in the brewery business with his uncle for some time, afterward learned the cooper's and carpenter's trades, and finally became a farmer. In Beardstown, this county, March 27, 1850, he married Mary E. Carls, a native of Hanover, Germany; born Aug. 28, 1834; daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Carls; from this union twelve children have been born: Louis, Phillipena, Edward B., Albert W., George F., Emma, Elizabeth, John Wes-
ley (died March 23, 1870, aged 3 years and one month), Ida E., Richard R., Cornelia P. and Otillia. Mr. Jokisch is a Republican; was Road Supervisor and School Director in 1878, and is at present School Trustee; he is a member of the German Methodist Church.
GOTTHALF JOKISCH, deceased, was born in Saxony, Feb. 22, 1820; son of Charles G. and Mary E. (Jacob) Jokisch, natives of Saxony, and parents of fifteen children, nine boys and six girls. Charles G. Jokisch, born June 20, 1796, was a farmer and distiller, and died in this county Oet. 9, 1851; his wife, born in 1294, died Jan. 24, 1835, in St. Louis, Mo., while on the way to this county. Gotthalf was always a farmer. In this county, Dec. 12, 1846, he married Eleanor Carls, a native of llanover, Germany, born Nov. 2, 1824, who bore him ten ehil- dren: Mary, Maurice, Philip, Matilda, Ame- lia, Edward, Harry, Theophilus (deceased), George (deceased), and Otto (deceased). Mr. Jokisch was a member of the M. E. Church; he was a Republican.
J. LEWIS KUHL, grocer, Beardstown; was born in Beardstown, July 16, 1850, and is half brother of the Kuhl brothers; his father having married at the death of his first wife, Mrs. Heminghouse, who bore him four children: J. Lewis, Mary, Henry, and Lydia. Our subject, after a common school educa- tion, took a course at the Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Mo., also a partial course at the Illinois Wesleyan University, and a commercial course at the Gem City Business College, graduating from that institution in 1872; after which he clerked for some years for Kuhl Bros. and at Pekin. In 1881, he embarked in the grocery business, on the corner of Sixth and Monroe streets, where he has a fine trade in groceries and queensware. Jan. 23, 1879, he married Miss Emma J. McVey, daughter of Rev. W. H. McVey, of Griggsville, Ill.
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JOHN KNIGHT, banker, Beardstown; is a native of Cornwall, England; born Feb. 5, 1838. His father, Thomas Knight, also a native of Cornwall, England, was a cooper, and followed his trade in the town of Cum- bron, England, before coming to America. He married Elizabeth Burlase, of Cornwall, England, who bore him three sons and three daughters, John being the youngest son, and fourth child. The children are as follows : Mary, Mrs. D. Bottrell, of Christian Co., Ill .; William J., of Beardstown; Thomas, John (subject); Elizabeth J., Mrs. Chauncey Rice; and Emily, who died at New Orleans, after the voyage from England. Subject's father died in this county, about the year 1861; aged sixty-seven years. His mother, who was born Nov. 25, 1198, died Ang. 21, 1879. Mr. Knight came to the United States in 1846, with his parents, who settled in Beardstown Precinct, and farmed for several years in the Sangamon Bottoms; then bought a farm of 264 acres of land of Abner Foster. He re- ceived a good common school education, and became owner of the homestead farm during the late war. He engaged in farming there till 1871, when he rented his lands, and moved to Beardstown. He has been Director of the Cass County Bank four years, and Vice Presi- dent during the same period. In 1876, he married Augusta, daughter of Henry Thei- bagt, of this county.
HENRY C. KEIL, hardware merchant, Beardstown; is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; born Nov. 2, 1848. He learned the tinner's trade, and worked some time at Frank- fort-on-the-Main, and came to this country in the spring of 1867. He worked in New York some time, and then came to Jacksonville, III., where he remained two years, coming to Beardstown in the fall of 1869, where he re- mained till 1822, when he went to Europe, and spent a year. On his return he worked at his trade, and in 1876, started for himself,
where he has continued ever since, doing a large and constantly increasing business. In 1880, he bought his present two-story brick building on Main street, and added to his line of stoves and tinware a stock of hard- ware and farm implements. In 1877, he mar- ried Miss Sophia Weiss, daughter of John Weiss, of this county.
GEORGE KUIIL, retired, Beardstown ; was born Sept. 17, 1807, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; son of Christian and Elizabeth (Ganz) Kuhl. Our subject learned the trade of baker, and worked at that for a number of years. In 1833 he came to America, and worked in Richmond, Va., a couple of years. and in 1836 came to Beardstown with his parents. In 1837 he started in the bakery business, which he continued till 1848. He then erected larger warerooms, and bought grain and sacked provisions for many years. In 1861 he built another business room on Main street, and opened a dry goods store, continuing the grocery business in another room. In 1876 Mr. Kuhl retired from busi- ness, leaving it in the hands of his sons, George and Philip. In 1838 he married Miss Chris- tiana Becker, who died in 1848, and three sons are living by that marriage. He was again married in 1849, to Mrs. Femmyhouse, and four children have been born to them.
GEORGE S. KUHL, of Kuhl Bros., dealers in dry goods, groceries and notions, Beards- town ; is a native of Beardstown, born Aug. 28, 1841, where he received his primary edu- cation, finishing at Quincy College. He be- gan elerking in a grocery store when young, and remained at that occupation till 1861, when he enlisted in Co. K., 33d Ill. Vol. Infantry, and serve.l in Missouri two years, under Gen- erals Steele and MeClernand. In the spring of 1862, he was detached from the ranks, and served as a clerk in the mustering office for nearly two years, and was discharged in 1864, having served three years. In 1872, he and
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his two brothers, William P., and Philip, en- tered into partnership, and carried on busi- ness for five years, when William P. retired from the firm, and George S. and Philip have since carried on the dry goods and grocery busi- ness, employing three salesmen. In 1881, the sales in the two departments amounted to $50,000. In 1868, Mr. Kuhl married Julia E., daughter of James Buck, of Beardstown. They have one son and one daughter.
HENRY KUHLMAN, farmer; P. O., Beardstown; is a native of Germany, born March 23, 1841, son of Gottlieb and Mary (Markman) Kuhlman. His father, who is still living, was born in Prussia, in 1806, and is a farmer. Henry attended school seven years in Germany, where he afterward learned the tailor's trade, at which he worked till he came here, since which time he has followed farming. He served three years in Co. C, 3d Ills. Cavalry, under Colonel Carr. In this county, Feb. 5, 1868, he married Sarah E. Dunn, a native of this county, daughter of John and Caroline Dunn; from this union six children have been born: John W., Albert H., Elizabeth C. (died May 11, 1875,) Frederick C., Edith A., and an infant yet unnamed. Mr. Kuhlman is a Republican and a member of Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W., in Beardstown; his wife is a member of the M. E. Church.
WILLIAM KUHLMAN, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born in Prussia, Germany, June 19, 1840; son of Gottlieb and Mary (Markman) Kuhlman. His father is still liv- ing, and follows the occupation of a farmer; he was born in Prussia in 1806. William re- ceived his education in his native land, where he attended school seven years; then began learning the brick-mason's trade, at which he worked in Germany; but since 1860 he has followed farming. In Beardstown, this coun- ty, Sept. 14, 1865, he married Nancy J. Mc- Lin, born in Morgan County, Ill., Jan. 4, 1844, who has borne him seven children: Ella,
Elizabeth C., Clara M., Harry, Charlie, Myr- tle, and Edgar. Mrs. Kuhlman is a member of the M. E. Church; she is a daughter of John and Charity McLin. Mr. Kuhlman is a Republican, and a member of Protection Lodge No. 22, A. O. U. W., in Beardstown, this county.
AUGUST E. KAMMERER, jeweler, Beardstown ; was born in Wheeling, Va. ( now West Virginia ), Aug. 3, 1847, where he received his education. At the age of seventeen he apprenticed to the watchmaker's and jeweler's trade, at which he served four years in his native eity, and in 1865, started in business in Little Rock, Ark., where he remained till 1869. He then moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he remained till 1877, when he came to Beardstown, and in 1880 opened his present jewelry store ou Main Street.
LYCURGUS S. LEE, farmer; P. O. Bluff Springs; is a native of Maryland, born Sept. 14, 1827, son of Caleb and Matilda (Higgins) Lee, also natives of that State, and parents of ten children. Caleb Lee, who was a farmer, was born in 1789, and died Dec. 10, 1847; his wife was born in 1802, and died in 1875. Lycurgus S. received his early education in what was then known as " the corner " school- house in Morgan, now Cass County, and began life as a farmer, and has since continued in that occupation on the same home farm. He will have been in this precinct 50 years next Octo- ber. In this county, Sept. 14, 1854, he married Luvina Ream; born in Morgan County, Ill., in 1833, daughter of John and Catharine Ream; by this union six children have been born: Charles W., Dora A., Mary M., Anna M., Solon S. and Ada T. Mr. Lee has been School Director and Road Commissioner; he is a Republican.
CHRISTIAN T. LAUNER, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 30, 1839, and is a son of Frederick and Lydia (Marty) Launer. Frederick Launer, who was
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a Lutheran minister, was born in Berne, Switzerland, in 1196, and died in the fall of 18:0; he was the first preacher in this county; his wife, also a native of Switzer- land, was born in 1830, and died Jan. 4, 1816; they were the, parents of seven chil- dren. Mr. Launer came with his parents to this county in 1841; he received but a limited education, as he attended school but a short time. He began life as a farmer, and has ever since followed that occupation in this county. He married here March 10, 18:0, Josephine Winhold, who was born in Pennsylvania, Sept. 12, 1837; they have had eight children: Bertha, Edward (deceased), Ida, Rosa, Richard, Edwin (deceased), Cora and Robert. Mr. Launer is a member of the Lutheran Church, and a supporter of the Re- publican party.
DR. H. H. LITTLEFIELD, Beardstown; was born in Wells, York County, Me., Sept. 25, 1823. His parents moved to Great Falls, N. H., when our subject was thirteen years old. After receiving a primary educa- tion, he began the study of medicine. In 1843, he came West and taught school two years. In 1846, he attended two courses of medical lectures at Bowdoin College, gradu- ating in 1848, and locating in Beardstown for one year; then removed to Schuyler County, where he lived till 1860, when he returned to Beardstown, where he has since remained, with the exception of two years' service in the Union army, as Assistant Surgeon. He was with Grant's army, and consequently saw much service. He is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society; also of the American Medical Association, since 1875.
JACOB LEBKNECHER, farmer; P. O. Beardstown; was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 22, 1836; son of Jacob and Margaret (Kohlman) Lebknecher, natives of Germany; he, a farmer by occupation, born in 1812, died D c. 17, 1838; she, born in 1808, died March
13, 1859; parents of four children. Jacob re- ceived his education in Germany, where he attended school seven years, and began the business of life as a cigar-maker in Philadel- phia, Pa. He afterward worked for four- teen months in a wholesale tea and cof- fee house in New York city; then engaged in the brewery business in Peoria, Ill., and was afterward engaged in the same business in Beardstown, this county, thirteen years. He has followed farming in this county eight years. He was married in New York city, Nov. 12, 1859, to Kathrina Burkheiser, a na- tive of Germany, born April 4, 1839, daugh- ter of Karl and Mary A. Burkheiser. They have had nine children: Anna M., Frank J., Charles, Jacob, Lena (deceased), Emma (de- ceased), William, Katie, and Tillie. He is a Democrat, and a member of Lodge No. 57, A. O. U. W., in Beardstown.
ALEXANDER LAMMERS, merchant, Beardstown; son of William and Mary (Hut- macher) Lammers, was born in Burgsteinport, Prussia, May 28, 1809. At the age of four- teen, he was apprenticed to the trade of car- penter and builder, at which he worked sev- eral years in his native country, and in 1836, he came to the United States. He first set- tled in New York, then in Cleveland, and then in Indiana; after which he went to Miss- issippi, working at his business, and from there to the mines at Galena, Ills., and Wis- consin. He first visited Beardstown in 1842, but settled there in 1849, and opened a gen- eral merchandising business, where he has been ever since, himself and two sons con- ducting the same. Mr. Lammers has built a a large number of business and private build- ings in Beardstown, and has been a stock- holder in the Cass County Bank since its or- ganization. In 1850, he married Miss Eleo- nora Christianer, of Beardstown, a native of Germany; and one son and two daughters were born from this marriage; one daughter
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living, wife of John Listman. Mrs. Lammers died June 5, 1855. Dec. 24, 1855 he married Anna Maria Eleonora Gersmeyer, of Beards- town, a native of Germany, who bore five children, one of whom died; those living are: Augusta, Alexander, Bertha, and Frank. Mrs. Lammers died Aug. 2, 1849.
HENRY C. MEYER, brick manufacturer and ice dealer; Beardstown; is a native of Prussia, Germany; born Sept. 20, 1835. In 1844, he came to the United States with his parents, who settled on a farm in Knox County, Ind., where he lived till he was twenty-two years of age. He early began to learn brick-making, at which he worked about eight years in Knox County, Ind. In 1857, he came to Beardstown, and started a brick yard near the town, and, after running it one year, took as a partner J. Baujan, and they run the business in company about five years, when Mr. Meyer retired from the busi- ness, and bought a farm in Arenzville Pre- cinct, this county, and engaged in farming there about five years. He then resumed brick-making, and has ever since been en- gaged, more or less extensively, in that busi- ness. In 1870, he bought a half interest in the present saw-mill on the bay, and, in com- pany with Mr. Baujan run it for two years; then bought out his partner's interest, and has since run the mill on his own account, employing eight or nine men constantly. The mill cuts on an average 4,000 feet per day. For the past six years Mr. Meyer has been engaged in the ice business, and has four ice houses with a capacity of 6,000 tons; his farm, mill, ice business, and brick-yard, furnish employment for a large force of men. He married Jan. 1, 1863, Amelia, daughter of Lewis Boy, of this county; they have had six children, one deceased. Mr. Meyer is a mem- ber of the present City Council; he is a Democrat.
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